Thanksgiving is a time to gather, celebrate, and create memories—not stress about food! At Black Iron Nutrition, we believe you can fully enjoy the holiday while staying on track with your health goals. Our coach, Brooke Haas, shares some practical tips to help you strike that balance.

Who doesn’t love mashed potatoes? This recipe is on the chunkier side, coach Emi likes her’s with some of the skin on to add a bit more texture. The great thing about these is that you can modify the milk and butter to suit your tastes! She used 1% milk in order to keep the fat low, but you can use any milk you like. You can also sub the butter for a vegan alternative, such as earth balance, in case you or any friends/family members aren’t into dairy.

If you think Brussels sprouts have to only taste like freshly mowed grass, THINK AGAIN! The trick is to slice them thinly (or be lazy and buy the pre-shaved ones from Trader Joes as I do) and make sure you slightly burn them. That’s where the magic happens.

Let’s talk Thanksgiving Day! Too often, I hear how much anxiety a day like Thanksgiving brings to my clients. A holiday that is basically centered around how much food we can stuff into our face in one sitting terrifies many people who are on a weight loss, or health and fitness journey. I put together a quick list of my favorite strategies to help you relax and enjoy the day!